Brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method providing pad liners made of a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis, where, in use, the viscoelastic material will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user&#39;s head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet, but upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material will resist deformation which would loosen the fit to the user&#39;s head, and will store and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user.

BACKGROUND

This invention provides a brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus andmethod that provides a close fit to the user's head to prevent unwantedmovement of the head within the helmet, and provides protection from theapplication of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checkedmomentum, protecting the head and brain of the user.

When playing football or being placed in other high-contact situations,a user may choose to wear a helmet to protect him- or herself frompotential impacts or blunt-force trauma. In football particularly,players wear a helmet to protect from the constant hits that may betaken to the head. The current helmet used by many players is lined withmaterials designed to protect the wearer from a fracture to the skull.However, the present designs do not provide adequate protection fromenergy transmission to the brain. Such energy transmission, which takesplace upon an impact to the head, may cause severe long-term braindamage or traumatic brain injuries (“TBI”), including but not limited tothe degenerative disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy(“CTE”). Studies have also suggested a link between traumatic braininjuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”). It has beensuggested that the damage may be caused by the cumulative effect ofconcussive, and even sub-concussive, blows over time.

The brain essentially floats in a thick cerebrospinal fluid, and cantherefore slosh back and forth within the skull. Blows to the head oftencause both a coup injury to the portion of the brain that slams into theskull at the site of impact, and a contrecoup injury to the portion ofthe brain that slams into the skull at the site opposite the site ofimpact. Such coup and contrecoup injuries are more likely when the headis allowed to bounce around within the helmet, and therefore secondaryimpacts of the head with the helmet are caused. The detrimental effectsof the head moving inside of the helmet are seen in both the situationsin which the helmeted head is struck directly, and situations in whichthe momentum of the head and body are suddenly checked.

Several patents disclose the use of various cushioning materials withinthe inner shell of a helmet. The focus of the existing art is to providemaximum adjustability for the wearer of the helmet, rather thanproviding maximum protection of the brain inside the skull of thewearer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,068 issued Aug. 13, 1985 to Hal D. Mitchell et al.on a “Shock Attenuation System,” comprising a plurality of shockattenuating columns of a substantially resilient elastomeric material.The columns of the shock attenuation system are so dimensioned andconfigured that, when subjected to an axial impact force ofpredetermined magnitude, they resiliently deform for attenuating theshock resulting from the impact force. The columns then spring backsubstantially to their undeformed shape. In use, the Mitchell et al.system comprises a liner secured to the inside surface of an outerprotective shell meant to be worn on the head. The liner includes theseries of tubes of elastomeric material, disposed in generally parallelside-by-side relation with their central axes generally parallel to theinside surface of the helmet shell. The tubes are elastically deformablein the radial direction and sufficiently closely spaced so that when onedeforms, as when a blow is delivered to the outer shell, it isengageable with the sides of adjacent tubes for deforming them, therebyattenuating the shock felt by the person wearing the headgear.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,562, issued May 4, 1971 to Mike C. Holt on an“Athletes' Protective Helmet, Particularly Football,” covers aprotective helmet with a shell of hard, rigid plastic material, andradially suspended pads that entirely encircle the wearer's head. Thefront pad and the rear pad are each fastened to the horizontal plasticbands, which encircle the inner circumference of the shell. The pads areaffixed to the respective plastic bands by mating tapes, one on theinside surface of the plastic band and the other on the outer surface ofthe pad, whereby when pushed together the pad is held to the plasticband. Each plastic band is held securely to the shell by spaced rivets.In the front, there is one plastic band, and in the rear there are twolongitudinal plastic bands, one being higher than the other, with thehigher band being at approximately the same level as the front plasticband. The rear pad extends slightly below the edge of the helmet toprotect the neck more effectively. Because the plastic bands are spacedfrom the inner surface of the shell, this affords air circulation thatkeeps the helmet cool, providing an advantage of the Holt helmet overother padded helmets.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,744, issued May 1, 1973 to Frederick A. Rappleyea ona “Protective Helmet for Football or the Like,” discloses a protectivehelmet having an outer durable shell and an inner replaceable liner ofexpanded, closed cell, plastic material of a type which is capable ofabsorbing energy by taking a permanent set. The liner is fitted aboutits inner periphery, with spaced sizer pads of foam rubber or the like,the sizer pads being removably secured by pairs of fabric fasteningstrips having surfaces formed with hooks and loops, respectively. Aninsert of foam rubber or the like is provided at the front edge of theliner and extends slightly below the edge of the shell to protect thebridge of the nose, as well as the forehead. The liner is moreoverprovided with grooves encircling the liner in a vertical direction, andthe liner and shell both have perforations which communicate with thegrooves for ventilating the space between the head of the wearer and theliner, as well as between the liner and the shell. A neck piece in theform of a pad of resilient foam rubber or the like is removably securedinside the rear edge of the shell and extends below the level thereof ina position to bear against the neck of the wearer. The Rappleyea helmetwas created in part to provide a protective helmet for football or thelike which offers a high degree of protection against all types ofimpact, and which may be quickly and easily adjusted to conform to thesize and shape of the head of the wearer. It was further developed tomake unique use of fabric fastening strips having hook-and-loopengagement, giving secure retention even in the face of repeated usageor adjustment.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,955 issued Nov. 26, 1971 to John H. Rawlings for a“Football Helmet.” The Rawlings patent covers a contour adjusting devicefor a football helmet having an elongated channel in the rear padding ofthe helmet, located substantially adjacent the nape of the neck of thewearer. A resilient pad of a selectively predetermined depth and of adimension to fit within the elongated channel is secured within thechannel and extends outwardly therefrom. The use of different depth padsadjusts the rear of the helmet to provide a snug fit against the nape ofthe neck. When the Rawlings patent was conceived, the conventionalfootball helmet had a basic configuration formed by the outer shell andinner resilient lining about the head and ears, and including a webbingwhich rests essentially on top of the wearer's head and prevents thehelmet from being driven down onto his head. One of the problems whichexisted was the fact that any blow or pull upwardly on a face guardcauses the helmet to rock about the wearer's head so as to press therear part of the helmet back and against the nape of the wearer's neck.The Rawlings helmet was designed in part to provide a simple means foradjusting the rear lower part of the football helmet to mate with thisnape of the neck of the wearer.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,970, issued Mar. 19, 1973 to Michael T. Marietta etal., covers a “Protective Headgear” that includes a plurality of cushionpads specially constructed and arranged within a shell to provide headprotection against impact forces. Additionally, the Marietta patentprovides ready means for custom sizing of the one shell to fit varioushead sizes and configurations. Each pad comprises a cover containing animproved cushion filling of compound layers of discrete material, whilethe rear of each pad is provided with manually separable fastening meansfor ready attachment to, and removal from, the shell interior. One ormore of the pads may be varied in thickness by the selectiveinsertion/removal of shims within the cover. The Marietta et al. helmetprovides a plurality of pads without sacrificing the adaptability of anyone single helmet to various sizes and shapes of head forms, via aunique construction of one or more of the seven pads used in eachhelmet. Means are provided to permit not only complete exchange of sizesof any one of the pads for one helmet, but also to allow individualvariation of the overall thickness of one or more pads in a particularhelmet. The sizing procedure of the disclosed helmet is almostinstantaneous since snaps or Velcro fastening elements are employed toprovide a direct connection between the back of each pad and theinterior of the helmet shell.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,099 issued Oct. 22, 2002 to Mike Dennis et al. on a“Body-Contact Cushioning Interface Structure.” The Dennis et al. patentdiscloses a plural-layer body-contacting cushioning interface structurewhich is interposable the human body and an external structure, such asa helmet. The cushioning structure of the invention, in one preferredform, has a body-facing side which contacts the body, and a load-facingside which contacts the mentioned external structure. Intermediate thesesides is a moisture-wicking layer which is designed to contact, and drawmoisture away from, the body, a continuous, moisture-blocking,gas-permeable barrier layer adjacent the moisture-wicking layer, and anacceleration-rate-sensitive cushioning structure disposed protectedlywithin the barrier layer which fully encapsulates the cushioningstructure. The Dennis et al. helmet, which preferably may be created asa military helmet, improves upon the conventional standard infantryhelmet with respect to minimizing the build-up of heat; maximizing thedispelling of perspiration; and enhancing the action of evaporativecooling.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,250 issued Apr. 30, 1996 to Michael R. Field et al.for an “Adjustable Protective Helmet.” The adjustable protective helmethas a substantially rigid outer bowl-shaped shell sized larger than theuser's head, and has inner padding inside of the shell sized to fit onthe user's head, but with a looser fit than desired. The adjustmentstructure includes a flexible strap extended through circumferentiallyspaced slots in the shell to extend both inside of and outside of theshell, to its ends outside of the shell, sized to overlap one another. Arivet secures the underlying strap end to the shell. The padding betweenthe shell slots is free from connection with the shell, and the strap inthis region overlies the padding between the padding and shell, and issecured to the padding. Quick-release fastening pads on the overlappingstrap ends allow them to be releasibly secured together. The strap canthus be tightened via the overlying strap end from outside of the shelland connected to the underlying strap end to establish the helmet fitdesired.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,610, issued Aug. 30, 1998 to Paul B. Mattes on a“Replaceable Cushion Liner for Military Headgear,” discloses a headgearcushion having a closed-cell foam core coated with a non-allergenicvinyl/nitrile composition. A powdered carbon is mixed with thevinyl/nitrile composition to provide a dark color. Pressure responsivematerial is adhered to the coated foam core and made removablyattachable to a headgear. This pressure responsive attachment materialis bonded to the back surface of the composition-covered foam. Acorresponding size mating pressure responsive material is fixed todesired locations on the inside surface of the headgear so that the foamcushion can be attached thereto. The foam cushions and pressureresponsive attachment material can be formed in various shapes, such asstrips or patches, and pressed into the inside surface of the headgearand removably attached thereto. The Mattes headgear may be intended forwear during extended periods of time, to provide reduction of pressureand stress on the head of the wearer by distributing the weight andtherefore the pressure of the helmet or headgear, and any otherequipment attached hereto. With reduced areas of concentrated pressure,the wearer is less likely to encounter headaches, stress, and fatigue.

The existing art fails to provide adequate management of the forces andcounter-forces acting ultimately upon the brain, inside the head, insidethe helmet, when the helmet is struck or when the momentum of the headis suddenly checked. This problem is especially evident in the contactsport of American football, and the problem affects a large number ofprofessional and amateur players, because damage is caused by thecumulative effects of blows received at the junior-high school level,when adolescents' brains are developing, and at the high school,college, and professional levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus andmethod that provides a circumferential pad liner, a longitudinal padliner, and two transverse pad liners made of a viscoelastic materialwhich deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has acapability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipatingsome energy through hysteresis, where, in use, the viscoelastic materialwill deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fitthe user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within thehelmet, but upon the application of strain over a short pulse of timefrom a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material will resistdeformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and willstore and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head andbrain of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts aredesignated by like numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of brain-protecting helmet lining inuse;

FIG. 2, representing PRIOR ART, is a schematic illustration of thepresent potential for brain injury in helmets lined with deformableelastic materials;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the brain-protecting helmet lining of theinvention in use inside various helmets and hard hats;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the brain-protecting helmet lining ofthe invention inside a helmet;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the brain-protecting helmet liningof the invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the brain-protecting helmetlining of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective exploded view of the brain-protecting helmetlining of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective exploded view of the brain-protectinghelmet lining of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom partially cutaway view of the brain-protecting helmetlining of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the brain-protecting helmet lining of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the coveringelement of the brain-protecting helmet lining of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of another, quilted embodiment ofthe covering element of the brain-protecting helmet lining of theinvention; and

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a quilted embodiment of the coveringelement of the brain-protecting helmet lining of the invention as used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to all figures generally, embodiments of the invention methodand apparatus 10 are illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 2, representing PRIOR ART, presently-availablehelmet-lining materials are elastic materials which will deform andrecoil in a linear, elastic fashion, which presents the three problemsof transmitting too much force to the head, creating too much space forthe head to move about without support, and causing an unwantedadditional secondary movement of the head during the immediate elasticrecoil. The transmission of force to the head, and the secondary,bouncing movements of the head, lead to coup-contrecoup injuries to thebrain because the brain slams into the skull both at the site of theblow and on the opposite side.

Referring to FIG. 1, the brain-protecting helmet lining 10 of theinvention uses a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependentand nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy whendeformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis. Acircumferential pad liner 1, longitudinal pad liner 2, and twotransverse pad liners 3 are installed in thicknesses sufficient to fillthe space between the user's head and the helmet interior shell, so thatthe head is always in contact with, and is supported by, all of the padliners. Because the viscoelastic material will readily deform inresponse to slight strain applied consistently, the brain-protectinghelmet lining will deform to adapt to and closely fit the user's head.The close adaptive fit ensures the head is always supported by all ofthe pad liners, which prevents unwanted movement of the head within thehelmet. A covering 4 is provided to prevent hair or skin from becomingstuck to the pad liners, and to increase the user's comfort by wickingaway perspiration and preventing a clammy direct contact of skin andviscoelastic material.

Theoretically, an ideal solid material deforms with Hookean linearelasticity, and an ideal liquid deforms with Newtonian linear viscosity.Elastic deformation is recoverable or partially recoverable; a stretchedpiece of rubber will return or snap back to its normal shape. This iselastic recoil—the material stores some of the energy input instead ofdissipating it to heat, and uses that stored energy to recover part ofits deformation. Viscous flow is not recoverable; to use an everydayexample, if the honey flows out of the bear-shaped bottle and spreadsacross a biscuit, it will not return nor snap back. But some materialsdeform in a time-dependent and nonlinear way that resembles acombination of elastic and viscous deformation and flow. They insteadexhibit viscoelastic properties. Simply put, a piece of viscoelasticmaterial can be flattened by the slow, steady application of a verysmall amount of pressure, such as pressing on it lightly with a finger,but the same piece, when hit suddenly with a hammer, will deform verylittle, or not at all. The viscoelastic material dampens the sudden blowof the hammer, but shows no resistance to a slower, steadier applicationof much less force. The deformation of viscoelastic material depends notjust on the amount of strain placed upon it, but also very much on therate of strain.

Anelastic solids are a subset of viscoelastic materials which have anequilibrium configuration allowing full recovery after removal of atransient load, so that, given enough time, they return to theiroriginal shape, and transient strain is recoverable after the load ordeformation is removed. So-called memory foams are anelastic solidviscoelastic materials.

A suitable viscoelastic material, used in making and testing a prototypeof this invention, is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), also known asdimethicone, which is a type of silicone oil or polymerized siloxanethat belongs to a group of polymeric organosilicon compounds commonlyreferred to as silicones. It can be made inert, non-toxic, andnon-flammable.

Other suitable viscoelastic materials for making the brain-protectinghelmet lining are viscoelastic polymers, viscoelastic polyurethanes,viscoelastic polyether polyols, viscoelastic foams, and viscoelasticfoam-gel combinations available under trade names including SOFTCEL®from Covestro AG, SORBOTHANE®, AKTON® Viscoelastic Polymer, and 3M™Ultra-Pure Viscoelastic Damping Polymers.

Referring to FIG. 3, the brain-protecting helmet lining 10 can be usedwith a wide variety of helmets and hardhats used in sporting events,used in military and police forces, used in industry and construction,and used in activities having a potential for head injuries. Thebrain-protecting helmet lining should be especially useful in contactsports such as American football, where the cumulative effects of manyconcussive and sub-concussive blows to the head and brain is arecognized problem.

Referring to FIG. 4 & FIG. 5, the brain-protecting helmet lining hasfour pieces of pad liner, all made from a viscoelastic material orcombination of materials. A circumferential pad liner 1 encircles thehead of the user from a location above the eyes to the back of the head.A longitudinal pad liner 2 forms an arch over the user's head from frontto back. Two transverse pad liners 3 form two partial arches from abovethe user's ears to the top of the user's head. Both ends of thelongitudinal pad liner 2, and one end of each transverse pad liner 3 areplaced in close proximity to the circumferential pad liner, and theother end of each transverse pad liner 3 is placed in close proximity tothe longitudinal pad liner. The pad liners can be attached to oneanother, or not attached. One reason for the close proximities is toensure that a sufficient area of the head is supported. Another reasonfor the close proximities is to manage and check the tendency ofviscoelastic materials to creep. The pad liners 1, 2, 3 essentially abuteach other, and check each other's tendency to creep.

In a prototype adult-sized embodiment of the brain-protecting helmetlining, the pad liners are approximately 2″ or 5 cm wide. Thecircumferential pad liner 1 is approximately 24″ or 61 cm long; thelongitudinal pad liner 2 is approximately 10″ or 25 cm long; and eachtransverse pad liner 3 is approximately 5″ or 13 cm long. These sizesprovide approximately 88 square inches, or 560 square centimeters, ofhead surface protection, which is properly distributed around the head.These sizes also leave sufficient empty space within the helmet to allowair circulation. A depth or thickness of approximately 1.2″ or 3 cmshould provide the thicknesses sufficient to fill the space between theuser's head and the helmet interior shell for average football-typehelmets.

As illustrated particularly clearly in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, & FIG. 9, thecovering 4 prevents direct contact of the head or hair with theviscoelastic material of the brain-protecting helmet lining. Dependingon the specific viscoelastic material or materials used, there might bea tendency for hair to become embedded and therefore stuck in thematerial, and direct contact of even a shaved head is likely to beoverly hot, clammy, or sticky. The covering 4 ameliorates thesepotential problems. The covering 4 can be made from an air and moisturepermeable woven or mesh material, such as a low-density cotton,synthetic canvas, or broadcloth. Optionally, an alternative covering 5can be made from a quilted material, providing more absorbency, asillustrated in FIG. 12 & FIG. 13.

In use, upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from ablow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material of thebrain-protecting helmet lining will resist deformation, which wouldloosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partiallydissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user.

Many changes and modifications can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that rightsto the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus, comprising: (i)a circumferential pad liner adapted to encircle the head of the userfrom a location above the eyes to the back of the head; (ii) alongitudinal pad liner adapted to form an arch over the user's head fromfront to back, with both endpoints in close proximity to saidcircumferential pad liner; (iii) two transverse pad liners adapted toform two partial arches from above the user's ears to the top of theuser's head, with one endpoint in close proximity to saidcircumferential pad liner and the other endpoint in close proximity tosaid longitudinal pad liner; and (iv) a covering adapted to fit betweensaid circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transversepad liners, and the user's head, adapted to increase the comfort andprotection of the user's head and hair; where said circumferential padliner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are made of aviscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinearway, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, whiledissipating some energy through hysteresis; where said circumferentialpad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners areprovided in thicknesses sufficient to fill the space between the user'shead and the helmet interior shell; where, in use, said brain-protectinghelmet lining will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently,to closely fit the user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the headwithin the helmet; and where, in use, upon the application of strainover a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, theviscoelastic material of said brain-protecting helmet lining will resistdeformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and willstore and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head andbrain of the user.
 2. The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus ofclaim 1, where said covering further comprises an air and moisturepermeable mesh material.
 3. The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatusof claim 1, where said covering further comprises a quilted material. 4.The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of claim 1, where saidcircumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse padliners are made from an anelastic solid viscoelastic material.
 5. Thebrain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of claim 1, where saidviscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelasticpolymer.
 6. The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of claim 1,where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelasticfoam.
 7. The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of claim 1, wheresaid viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelasticfoam-gel combination.
 8. The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus ofclaim 1, where said viscoelastic material making said circumferentialpad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is aviscoelastic polyurethane.
 9. The brain-protecting helmet liningapparatus of claim 1, where said viscoelastic material making saidcircumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse padliners is a viscoelastic polyether polyol.
 10. The brain-protectinghelmet lining apparatus of claim 1, where said viscoelastic materialmaking said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, andtransverse pad liners is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
 11. Abrain-protecting helmet lining method, comprising: (i) providing abrain-protecting helmet lining apparatus, comprising: (a) acircumferential pad liner adapted to encircle the head of the user froma location above the eyes to the back of the head; (b) a longitudinalpad liner adapted to form an arch over the user's head from front toback, with both endpoints in close proximity to said circumferential padliner; (c) two transverse pad liners adapted to form two partial archesfrom above the user's ears to the top of the user's head, with oneendpoint in close proximity to said circumferential pad liner and theother endpoint in close proximity to said longitudinal pad liner; and(d) a covering adapted to fit between said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners, and the user's head,adapted to increase the comfort and protection of the user's head andhair; where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, andtransverse pad liners are made of a viscoelastic material which deformsin a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storingstrain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy throughhysteresis; where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal padliner, and transverse pad liners are provided in thicknesses sufficientto fill the space between the user's head and the helmet interior shell;where, in use, said brain-protecting helmet lining will deform, underslight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user's head andprevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet; and where, inuse, upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from ablow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material of saidbrain-protecting helmet lining will resist deformation which wouldloosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partiallydissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user;and (ii) wearing said brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus toprotect the head and brain of the user.
 12. The brain-protecting helmetlining method of claim 11, where said covering further comprises an airand moisture permeable mesh material.
 13. The brain-protecting helmetlining method of claim 11, where said covering further comprises aquilted material.
 14. The brain-protecting helmet lining method of claim11, where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, andtransverse pad liners are made from an anelastic solid viscoelasticmaterial.
 15. The brain-protecting helmet lining method of claim 11,where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelasticpolymer.
 16. The brain-protecting helmet lining method of claim 11,where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelasticfoam.
 17. The brain-protecting helmet lining method of claim 11, wheresaid viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner,longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelasticfoam-gel combination.
 18. The brain-protecting helmet lining method ofclaim 11, where said viscoelastic material making said circumferentialpad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is aviscoelastic polyurethane.
 19. The brain-protecting helmet lining methodof claim 11, where said viscoelastic material making saidcircumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse padliners is a viscoelastic polyether polyol.
 20. The brain-protectinghelmet lining method of claim 11, where said viscoelastic materialmaking said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, andtransverse pad liners is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).